Wednesday, January 25, 2017

Rockstar Book Tours Blog Tour, Excerpt, & Giveaway: Dawn Study (Maria V Snyder)



Displaying 9780778319856_TS_smp.jpgDAWN STUDY (Study Series #6)
Author: Maria V. Snyder
Pub. Date: January 31, 2017
Publisher: Mira Ink
Pages: 384
Format: Paperback, eBook, audiobook

New York Times bestselling author Maria V. Snyder brings her Poison Study series to its exhilarating conclusion.
Despite the odds, Yelena and Valek have forged an irrevocable bond and a family that transcends borders. Now, when their two homelands stand on the brink of war, they must fight with magic and cunning to thwart an Ixian plot to invade Sitia.
Yelena seeks to break the hold of the insidious Theobroma that destroys a person's resistance to magical persuasion. But the Cartel is determined to keep influential citizens and Sitian diplomats in thrall and Yelena at bay. With every bounty hunter after her, Yelena is forced to make a dangerous deal.
With might and magic, Valek peels back the layers of betrayal surrounding the Commander. At its rotten core lies a powerful magician and his latest discovery. The fate of all rests upon two unlikely weapons. One may turn the tide. The other could spell the end of everything.



Find it:


Displaying Maria.jpg
Maria V. Snyder changed from being a meteorologist to a novelist in 1995, when she began writing to keep her sanity while raising two children. Since then, she has published numerous freelance articles in magazines and newspapers, and teaches fiction-writing classes at the local college and area libraries. The classes give her the wonderful opportunity to encourage fellow writers, and to keep improving her craft.
Born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Maria always had a fascination with big storms. Dreaming of chasing tornados, Maria earned a bachelors of science degree in meteorology at Penn State University. But she discovered, much to her chagrin, that forecasting the weather wasn't one of her skills. In order to chase tornados you had to predict where they might form. Creating fantasy worlds where she has complete control of the weather was more agreeable to her.
Maria's research on food-tasting methods with an expert chocolate taster, her husband, turned out to be a delicious bonus while writing Poison Study.
Maria has a brown belt in Isshinryu Karate, and enjoys playing volleyball and the cello. Traveling in general and via cruise ship in particular are her biggest distractions from writing. Maria has traveled to Belize, Canada, China, Costa Rica, Europe, Mexico, the Caribbean and through the Panama Canal.
Maria lives with her husband, son, daughter and yellow lab, Hazelnut, in Pennsylvania where she is at work on more LUNA novels. She is also pursuing a master's degree in writing popular fiction from Seton Hill University.



Readers are welcome to contact Maria at the following email address: maria@mariavsnyder.com.


Where you can find Maria:





[This is from Leif’s POV – He was riding on Rusalka and Mara and Esau were on a wagon filled with plants when they were ambushed. Mara yelled for Rusalka to “go home” and the horse took off through the woods.]

By the time Leif wrestled control back, Rusalka had taken them far away from the wagon and its precious cargo—Mara and his father. None of the patrol members had chased after him. Leif dismounted and walked Rusalka, letting the horse cool down. He needed to cool his raging thoughts, as well.

Impotent fury burned in his chest over what Mara had done. She’d commanded Rusalka to go home, and the horse hadn’t hesitated. Damn. This was the exact reason why he’d wanted Mara to ride Rusalka. So she’d be safe. But she’d refused, and now she was caught, along with his father. Double damn.

Trying to suppress his fear and anger, Leif considered his next move. The patrol would most likely take them to Fulgor, to either the security headquarters or the garrison. If he could intercept them before they arrived…

No. Too many of them. Plus the soldiers were on horseback, and Leif would need to bring along a couple mounts for Mara and Esau. Doubtful he’d find any extra horses in the middle of nowhere. Leif glanced around at the forest and realized he had no sense of his location. As much as he hated—no, despised—the idea, he’d have to wait until they were taken to a specific place before he could rescue them. 

At least he had friends and family in Fulgor. Opal, Mara’s younger sister, wouldn’t hesitate to help him, and neither would her husband, Devlen. Leif checked Rusalka’s legs and gave her water, but his mind was already planning his next move. 

Only later, with Rusalka headed toward Fulgor, did Leif grudgingly acknowledge Mara’s quick thinking and intelligence. Of the three of them, he had the best chance of coordinating a successful rescue. He had magic, connections and the most experience. It made sense that he’d be the one to escape. 

But that didn’t mean he had to like it.





6 Winners will receive finished copies of DAWN STUDY, US Only.

4 Winners will receive finished copies of DAWN STUDY, International.







Tour Schedule:

Week One:

1/23/2017-a GREAT read- Interview

1/24/2017- Books for Thought- Review

1/25/2017- YABC- Guest Post

1/26/2017- Mundie Moms- Review

1/27/2017- Dark Faerie Tales- Interview



Week Two:

1/30/2017- Kindle and Me- Review

1/31/2017- Two Chicks on Books- Guest Post


2/2/2017- Moonlight Gleam Reviews- Interview

2/3/2017- The Bibliophile Chronicles- Review






Friday, January 20, 2017

Rockstar Book Tours Blog Tour, Interview, & Giveaway: After The Fall (Kate Hart)





AFTER THE FALL
Author: Kate Hart
Pub. Date: January 24, 2017
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)
Pages: 336
Formats: Hardcover, eBook

Seventeen-year-old Raychel is sleeping with two boys: her overachieving best friend Matt…and his slacker brother, Andrew. Raychel sneaks into Matt’s bed after nightmares, but nothing ever happens. He doesn’t even seem to realize she’s a girl, except when he decides she needs rescuing. But Raychel doesn't want to be his girl anyway. She just needs his support as she deals with the classmate who assaulted her, the constant threat of her family’s eviction, and the dream of college slipping quickly out of reach. Matt tries to help, but he doesn’t really get it… and he’d never understand why she’s fallen into a secret relationship with his brother. The friendships are a precarious balance, and when tragedy strikes, everything falls apart. Raychel has to decide which pieces she can pick up – and which ones are worth putting back together.


Find it: 


After studying Spanish and history at a small liberal arts school, Kate Hart taught young people their ABCs, wrote grants for grownups with disabilities, and now builds treehouses for people of all ages. Her debut YA novel, AFTER THE FALL, is coming January 2017 from FSG. She also contributes to YA Highway, hosts the Badass Ladies You Should Know series, and will soon sell inappropriate handicrafts at The Badasserie.
Kate is a citizen of the Chickasaw Nation, and owns a treehouse-building business in northwest Arkansas, where she resides with her family.









Which came first, the title or the novel?
The title came about halfway through the writing of the novel. I’d been playing around with various “fall” variations, and when I put Jose Gonzalez’s song “Futures” on my writing playlist, the refrain “after the fall” just stuck.



Thinking way back to the beginning, what’s the most important thing you've learned as a writer from then to now?

I’ve learned that being a writer can’t be my whole identity. Other pursuits and interests feed my writing, but they’re also valuable beyond what they contribute to my work. I need a wide variety of pursuits to keep myself balanced.


What do you like most about the cover of the book?

Oh man, everything. Elizabeth Clark knocked it out of the park. I am so grateful to her -- the cover looks like it came straight off my inspiration board.



What was your favorite book in 2016?

I really enjoyed Zan Romanoff’s A Song To Take the World Apart, Certain Dark Things by Silvia Moreno-Garcia, House of Purple Cedar by Tim Tingle, Jessica Spotwood’s A Tyranny of Petticoats, and The Weight of Feathers by Anna-Marie McLemore.


What’s up next for you?

I’m working on two manuscripts: one is a YA contemporary set over two summers in Texas, and the other is a historical magical realism based on the history of the Wichita Mountains in Oklahoma and some of my own genealogy. I also plan to expand the Etsy shop I just opened (thebadasserie.net) to include jewelry made from our treehouse business’s wood scraps.




Which was the most difficult or emotional scene to narrate?

The first assault scene, by far. It required revisiting lots of painful memories, but I also had to balance the trauma of seeing that played out on the page versus the necessity of the reader understanding why Raychel responds the way she does. I hope I found an okay medium.


Which character gave you the most trouble when writing your latest book?

Carson. I understand the societal forces that make boys believe they’re entitled to women’s bodies, but it was a different challenge to delve into why this individual couldn’t see the truth of his actions. I didn’t want to sympathize with him, but as the author, I did have to understand his motivations and background in order to write him effectively. The process was valuable for the narrative but extremely uncomfortable for me personally.



Which part of the writing process do you enjoy more: Drafting or Revising?

I haaaaaate drafting. Revising is infinitely easier for me.



What would you say is your superpower?

Speedreading. I also have a supersonic sense of smell, but it’s more of a hindrance than a help.



Is there an organization or cause that is close to your heart?

My mother in law founded Life Styles, Inc, a local organization that empowers adults with developmental disabilities to live independently. She built the agency from the ground up, starting with a few rooms in a motel in the 70s, and her example always makes it hard to argue that anything is too difficult.  





3 winners will receive a finished copy of AFTER THE FALL, US Only.








Tour Schedule:


Week One:

1/16/2017- addicted2books- Review

1/17/2017- BookHounds YA- Interview

1/18/2017- Wandering Bark Books- Guest Post

1/19/2017- Here's to Happy Endings- Review

1/20/2017- Curling Up With A Good Book- Interview



Week Two:

1/23/2017- Pretty Deadly Reviews- Review

1/24/2017- Brittany's Book Rambles- Guest Post

1/25/2017- Arctic Books- Review

1/26/2017- Owl Always Be Reading- Interview

1/27/2017- Mary Had a Little Book Blog- Review






Friday, January 13, 2017

ARC Review: Carve The Mark (Veronica Roth)

Carve The Mark
Author: Veronica Roth
Hardcover, 480 pages
Publication Date: January 17th 2017 

Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books

On a planet where violence and vengeance rule, in a galaxy where some are favored by fate, everyone develops a currentgift, a unique power meant to shape the future. While most benefit from their currentgifts, Akos and Cyra do not—their gifts make them vulnerable to others’ control. Can they reclaim their gifts, their fates, and their lives, and reset the balance of power in this world?
Cyra is the sister of the brutal tyrant who rules the Shotet people. Cyra’s currentgift gives her pain and power—something her brother exploits, using her to torture his enemies. But Cyra is much more than just a blade in her brother’s hand: she is resilient, quick on her feet, and smarter than he knows.
Akos is from the peace-loving nation of Thuvhe, and his loyalty to his family is limitless. Though protected by his unusual currentgift, once Akos and his brother are captured by enemy Shotet soldiers, Akos is desperate to get his brother out alive—no matter what the cost. When Akos is thrust into Cyra’s world, the enmity between their countries and families seems insurmountable. They must decide to help each other to survive—or to destroy one another.








Veronica Roth is from a Chicago suburb. She studied creative writing at Northwestern University, and wrote DIVERGENT (Katherine Tegen Books, May 2011) and INSURGENT (May 2012). The third and final book in The Divergent Trilogy, ALLEGIANT, will come out on October 22, 2013. In the meantime she will spend endless hours browsing Wikipedia in her pajamas as she eats corn flakes. (Or some other kind of bland breakfast cereal.)










"Honor has no place in survival."

Carve The Mark is an deeply riveting sci-fi thriller with non-stop action, heart-breaking betrayal, and an intense survival story that will keep readers flipping pages right up until the captivating ending.

Carve The Mark is one of the most highly anticipated books of 2017.....and it without a doubt lives up to the hype! I devoured Carve The Mark and cannot wait for readers everywhere to read this fantastic book! 

The first thing that drew me to Veronica Roth's Carve The Mark was it's remarkably gorgeous and intricate cover. Everything about the cover screams "AMAZING!!!" The color and the graphics are just breath-taking. I could literally stare at this gorgeous cover ALL DAY....and once the reader has finished the book and the underlying meaning behind the cover and the name of the book are discovered then everything comes together and the reality of how intense Cyra's world really is...... will stun and haunt you. 

"He would die for his loved ones....
She has to kill for hers....."

Of course, like so many other YA readers out there.....I am a huge fan of Veronica Roth's and when I realized that she had written a new duology I knew that I had to read it and I was not disappointed. I love the YA Sci-Fi and Fantasy genre and Carve The Mark has all the aspects of a great story with it's unique world-building and fascinating main characters. I loved that the female main character, Cyra, is the warrior and heroine of the story. Cyra is strong, independent and yet battling some serious inner demons as well as her evil brother, Ryzek who is the ruler of their world. 

Carve The Mark is told in two POVs: the two main characters, Cyra and Akos. Akos is from another nation that is also ruled by Cyra's tyrant brother, Ryzek and Akos is captured and brought to Cyra's homeland in order to use his currentgift to ease Cyra's currentgift that causes her so much pain. Cyra's currentgift causes her to be in constant pain but at the same time causes her to be incredibly powerful....she can kill anyone with a single touch. In return, Akos is able to remove her pain by a single touch as well. Akos has basically lost everyone he loves but instead of giving up...he is fighting and learning to survive amongst his enemies so that have can save his brother who was also captured and both of them can return back to their homeland. 

I really enjoyed the relationship between Cyra and Akos. I like that the feelings between them were not instantaneous (also know as "insta-love") but actually they grew to like each other over time which makes their relationship so much more believable. 

"Akos touched her face. When he first met her, he thought she was this fearsome thing, this monster he needed to escape. But she had unfurled bit by bit, showing him her wicked humor by waking him with a knife to his throat, talking about herself with unflinching honesty, for better or worse, and loving- so deeply- every little bit of this galaxy, even the parts she was supposed to hate....."

Overall, I just truly loved Carve The Mark! The world of Shotet and Thuvhe that Akos and Cyra live in was a refreshing new "Star Wars-esque" world that really captivated me and I cannot wait to see what happens next in this story.  Kudos, Veronica....you did it again. :)




**The quotes from this book have been taken from an Advanced Reading Copy and are subject to change when the final book is printed. Please refer to the final, finished copy for exact quotes!**


**I want to say Thank You to Katherine Tegen Books for the opportunity to review this book!!**








Download a free “First Look” at Carve the Mark on Epicreads.com
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Follow Veronica Roth on Instagram | Twitter | Facebook
Use #CarvetheMark if you’re chatting about the book!



Thursday, January 12, 2017

Cover Reveal & Giveaway: LaLa Land (Book 2 in the Gods of Anthem Series) (Logan Keys)




Logan here! So glad I could share this cover reveal with you all first! Young Adult readers are the very best type of readers in the WORLD! I hope you'll check out my series, and follow me, too, because, there's plenty more YA of all genres soon to come from me to you.






Hey everyone!! I am so excited to be able to reveal the cover for Logan Keys sequel to her amazing book, Gods of Anthem, which is called LaLa Land !!!




Book: LaLa Land
Author: Logan Keys
Publish Date: February 1st, 2017
Publisher: Le Chat Publishing


"I've woken up into a world full of teeth."
Following the best-selling novel Gods of Anthem, La La Land is a must-read for fans of dystopian zombie books, and young adult fiction. Those who enjoyed The Walking Dead, Divergent, or Hunger Games, will love this sequel that delivers an epic tale of survival until the heart-stopping finale.
After the disastrous plague of the undead, one city has been all that's remained...until now.
A second fortress has risen out of the water, a place where things aren't always as they seem, and its leaders covet the last standing city of Anthem for themselves.
Liza, along with fellow prisoner Tommy, will face the new world order once again as these two are forced to pick a side in the war for control over Anthem. The two cities value different things: Power vs. Beauty. What will win? Before now, Liza and Tommy had faced their own battles against the evil regime called Authority, however, this time, the soldier and rebel will search for allies TOGETHER across a destroyed America.
The Last City Series is a monstrous tale about the darkness of humanity, with fresh horror elements that will rock a reader to their core.













Oceans apart, a young musician and a “special” soldier embark on a perilous journey for home fueled by the unyielding pursuit of freedom from the Authority.
Sixteen-year-old prodigy, Liza Randusky, waits imprisoned, blamed for the undead plague that’s slowly destroying the planet. Banished to an island where she’ll never play her beloved piano again, Liza’s steadfast sense of justice and passion for music may have the power to change her destiny. But will it be enough...
To strike back at the new world order, the troubled son of a preacher, Thomas Ripley-Hatter, suffers unspeakable alterations by the Underground to join a secret Army. Tommy knows that all hope lies in human-weapons like himself, and that somehow he must cling to his sanity…while letting loose the monster to win.
The battle begins for the last-standing sliver of humanity: Anthem.











Logan's best-selling Gods of Anthem series is her debut into young-adult dystopian, and she's loving the adventure that world-building brings. Logan began writing horror and poetry early in life, but she says young-adult is swiftly becoming her home. She's currently living on the Island of Oahu in Hawaii with her husband, children, and fur-child Lola. Even though it's a tropical setting, her writing remains the same moody narrative she's always enjoyed. 
















One winner will receive a $10 Amazon Gift Card (International)









Tuesday, January 10, 2017

Rockstar Book Tours Blog Tour, Excerpt, & Giveaway: You Don't Know My Name (Kristen Orlando)

Displaying YOU DON'T KNOW MY NAME.jpg


Displaying Final Cover.jpgYOU DON'T KNOW MY NAME (The Black Angel Chronicles #1)
Author: Kristen Orlando
Pub. Date: January 10, 2017
Publisher: Swoon Reads
Pages: 320
Formats: Hardcover, eBook

Fighter, Faker, Student, Spy.
Seventeen-year-old Reagan Elizabeth Hillis is used to changing identities overnight, lying to every friend she’s ever had, and pushing away anyone who gets too close. Trained in mortal combat and weaponry her entire life, Reagan is expected to follow in her parents’ footsteps and join the ranks of the most powerful top-secret agency in the world, the Black Angels. Falling in love with the boy next door was never part of the plan.
Now Reagan has to decide: Will she use her incredible talents and lead the dangerous life she was born into, or throw it all away to follow her heart and embrace the normal life she's always wanted? And does she even have a choice at all?
Find out if you are ready to join the Black Angels in the captivating and emotional page-turner, You Don't Know My Name, from debut novelist Kristen Orlando!



Find it: 
Displaying Kristen.jpg
Writing is one of the great loves of my life (with bacon mac and cheese, Netflix binges and PJs also in the mix). My childhood in Columbus, Ohio was spent reading every single Baby-Sitter’s Club book ever written and acting out imaginary tragedies in my room (complete with costumes and props) until a really embarrassing age. I started writing plays for my younger cousins as soon as they were all old enough to act (The Spoiled Princess may be a personal favorite) and haven’t stopped writing since. After graduating from Kenyon College with a B.A. in English Literature, I’ve been lucky enough to make writing my career; first as a television producer, then as a marketer and now as a novelist.










I flip open the keypad and punch in the six-digit code, unlocking the secret door to our basement. My feet pound down the stairs, relieved to find the basement empty and cold. I head straight for the punching dummy, rage bubbling and burning my skin. My hands are shaking. I can’t even be bothered to put on training gloves. All I want to do is smash the dummy’s face.

I tear off my jacket and throw it to the floor. A piece of paper flies from a pocket and pinwheels to the ground.

It’s folded, its edges torn. I pick it up, unfold it, and recognize the half-cursive, half-printed handwriting immediately. Luke’s. Inside the note are four words. I’m falling for you. I hold the note in my hand and read the words over and over again. The tears I’ve been struggling to contain rise, burning the corners of my eyes.

“No,” I whisper and close my eyes. “Please, no.”

I breathe in once, twice, then attack the dummy. Punch after punch after punch the dummy bounces back to me, mocking my strength, unmoved by my rage.

You’re leaving him, you’re leaving him, my mind hisses with every violent punch.

The tears crawling up my throat finally break free, rolling hot and thick down my face. I don’t swallow them or fight them or even brush them off my face. For the first time in years, I let them fall.

Through glassy eyes, I hit the dummy again and again until I cannot take him coming back to me one more time. “Goddammit!” I scream and shove the dummy with so much strength, it falls with a deafening crash to the floor.

Pain shoots sharp and searing through my muscles, sending me to my knees.

“Please don’t,” I whisper as the tears fall faster and turn into full-body sobs.

Please don’t take me away from him. 





3 winners will receive a signed finished copy of YOU DON’T KNOW MY NAME, US Only.




a Rafflecopter giveaway





Tour Schedule:


Week One:

1/2/2017- BookHounds YA- Interview

1/3/2017- A Gingerly Review- Review

1/4/2017- Novel Novice- Guest Post

1/5/2017- YA Book Nerd- Review

1/6/2017- Brittany's Book Rambles- Interview




Week Two:

1/9/2017- Ohana Reads- Review

1/10/2017- Curling Up With A Good Book- Excerpt

1/11/2017- Bookwyrming Thoughts- Review

1/12/2017- The Cover Contessa- Interview

1/13/2017- I Heart Romance & YA- Review






Rockstar Book Tours Release Day Blitz & Giveaway: Roseblood (A.G. Howard)


I am so excited that ROSEBLOOD by A.G. Howard releases today and that I get to share the news!
If you haven’t yet heard about this wonderful book by Author A.G. Howard, be sure to check out all the details below.

This blitz also includes a giveaway for a signed ROSEBLOOD poster and a mask courtesy of A.G. and Rockstar Book Tours. So if you’d like a chance to win, enter in the Rafflecopter at the bottom of this post.


About The Book:

Title: ROSEBLOOD
Author: A.G. Howard
Pub. Date: January 10, 2016
Publisher: Amulet Books
Pages: 432
Formats: Hardcover, paperback, eBook

In this modern day spin on Leroux’s gothic tale of unrequited love turned to madness, seventeen-year-old Rune Germain has a mysterious affliction linked to her operatic talent, and a horrifying mistake she’s trying to hide. Hoping creative direction will help her, Rune’s mother sends her to a French arts conservatory for her senior year, located in an opera house rumored to have ties to The Phantom of the Opera.

At RoseBlood, Rune secretly befriends the masked Thorn—an elusive violinist who not only guides her musical transformation through dreams that seem more real than reality itself, but somehow knows who she is behind her own masks. As the two discover an otherworldly connection and a soul-deep romance blossoms, Thorn’s dark agenda comes to light and he’s forced to make a deadly choice: lead Rune to her destruction, or face the wrath of the phantom who has haunted the opera house for a century, and is the only father he’s ever known.






About A.G. Howard

A.G. Howard was inspired to write SPLINTERED while working at a school library. She always wondered what would've happened had the subtle creepiness of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland taken center stage, and she hopes her darker and funkier tribute to Carroll will inspire readers to seek out the stories that won her heart as a child.
When she's not writing, A.G.'s pastimes are reading, rollerblading, gardening, and family vacations which often include impromptu side trips to 18th century graveyards or condemned schoolhouses to appease her overactive muse.


Giveaway Details:

1 winner will receive a signed ROSEBLOOD poster and a Mask. US Only.

Ends on January 17th at Midnight EST!